Guide To Classic Traveller Page 2. Sample file

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1 Guide To Classic Traveller Page 2 The Universe of Traveller The original Little Black Box edition of Traveller: a 6 x 9 x 1-1/2 inch box (the same size as the original Dungeons & Dragons box). (The sticker says that this was the fifth copy off the assembly line). Inside the Little Black Box were the first three Little Black Books: each 48 pages, 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 inches. Plus 2 six-sided dice. So begins the box back for Basic Traveller, leading the player to the three books (Books 1, 2, and 3) that were the original basis for the Traveller science-fiction roleplaying game. The original Traveller game rules were known as the Little Black Books (the LBBs): so named for their format as 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 digest-sized booklets with stark black covers. These easy-to-carry and easy-to-consult game books established a feel for the Traveller system that players and game masters remember even today. Individual books sold for varying prices (Supplements were $4; Adventures were $5; Books were $6) with several appearing through the course of a year. Ultimately, there were nine Books and more than 30 other LBBs. This guide is a tour through the materials that revealed the universe of Classic Traveller and established the foundation of the far-flung and information-rich environment for science-fiction role-playing that has resulted. The information in these books is still applicable today providing insights and details of the universe for use with any of the Traveller editions.

2 Guide To Classic Traveller Page 3 CORE RULES Core rules sets for Traveller were the foundation the essential material on how to play. Understanding Traveller The core Traveller rules came in four flavors: Basic Traveller Starter Traveller Deluxe Traveller TTB and TTA Basic Traveller Basic Traveller was the original version of the core rules for Traveller. First published in 1977, the set appeared as three Little Black Books in a 6x9x1-1/2 inch black box with the characteristic red Traveller stripe. A revised version of the rules appeared in B1 Characters and Combat B2 Starships This 8-page promotional piece provided the details of the basic game system and background. B3 Worlds and Adventures The core character rules character generation using Traveller s unique prior career system, plus personal combat. The core rules for starship design and operation, interstellar travel, and space combat. The core rules for creating worlds using Traveller s unique Universal World Profile, plus animal encounters, and adventure creation.

3 Guide To Classic Traveller Page 4 ST Starter Traveller GDW produced Starter Traveller as an introductory version of the game. It included a book of core rules, a separate set of charts, and a book of adventures. One of the handouts for the adventure in Starter. The other handout for the adventures in Starter.

4 Guide To Classic Traveller Page 5 DT Deluxe Traveller GDW published Deluxe Traveller as a larger format boxed game (primarily to be more visible on the shelf in game stores). The box included the basic Books 1, 2, and 3, plus Book 0 Intriuction to Traveller, and an Introductory Adventure, plus a poster map of the Spinward Marches. Books B0 IntroductionTo Traveller The Spinward Marches Map Introduction To Traveller presents basic information about role-playing for the novice player. This book was included in Deluxe Traveller, as well as being sold separately. A0 Introductory Adventure The Introductory Adventure in Deluxe Traveller sends the players out to survey (or resurvey) the Spinward Marches sector. They will get Cr50,000 per world surveyed, plus a bonus of Cr10,000 per world if all 440 worlds are surveyed within 20 years! Plus, the patron will pay under-the-table bonuses for surveys of Red Zones.

5 Guide To Classic Traveller Page 6 TTB The Traveller Book The Traveller Adventure The Traveller Book consolidated the core rules (Books 1-2-3) into a single 8.5 x 11 book and added additional material on how-to-play the game. It also added the short adventures Shadows (from Double Adventure 1) and Exit Visa. 159 pages hardcover with dust jacket, or softcover. TTA The Traveller Adventure provided a massive adventure with multiple episoides set throughout the Spinward marches. Notably, the adventure included Vargr character generation, details of Arami subsector, and a variety of library data. 153 pages. softcover. The players in The Traveller Adventure were the crew of the Fat Trader March Harrier.

6 Guide To Classic Traveller Page 7 B00 Intro To Traveller B04 Mercenary B05 High Guard BOOKS Books present additional rules on specific subjects, expanding on Traveller's basic concepts. Books run 48 to 56 pages and may be used independently or together, but all require the basic rules sets.. The first three Books were part of Basic Traveller; the other books were expansions on specific subjects: the Navy, the Military, the Scouts, the Merchants, and Robots. Introduction To Traveller presents basic information about role-playing for the novice player. This book was included in Deluxe Traveller, as well as being sold separately. B06 Scouts Mercenary set the stage for Traveller's continuing emphasis on the military. It was a natural expansion of two character types: Army and Marines, and led ultimately to the Traveller miniatures rules set: Striker. B07 Merchant Prince High Guard applies the Mercenary expanded character generation concepts to the interstellar navy, plus an expanded ship design and ship combat system. B08 Robots Scouts addressed in detail the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service: its organization, duties, and operations, plus an expanded star system generation sequence. Merchant Prince expanded the merchant character generation system, plus a detailed trade and commerce system and with details on how merchant companies are organized. Robots addressed an aspect of the future which Traveller had acknowledged, but rarely covered. Based on material in the first three issues of Travellers' Digest, it expanded and elaborated on the concepts.